New Florida Strawberry Festival theme announced
The Florida Strawberry Festival unveiled the theme for the upcoming 2019 event: “It’s a Hit!”
This year’s theme goes all-in on baseball, with festival mascot Mr. Berry wearing a Florida Strawberry Festival-branded ball cap, holding a bat in one hand and a strawberry shortcake in the other.
“It's a team effort," president Paul Davis said. "Our team of volunteers, vendors, exhibitors and sponsors create an all-star lineup that is sure to please. We pitch only the best to our guests in hopes that they have a ball with their loved ones at the 2019 Florida Strawberry Festival."
The Florida Strawberry Festival will run from Feb. 28, 2019 through March 10, 2019 and its official social media hashtag is #berryfest19.
"From the headline entertainment hits on the Wish Farms Sound Stage to the sweetest hit, our world-famous strawberry shortcake," Davis said, "we're sure to knock this one out of the park.”
‘Play for a Cure’ next Saturday
Kids just want to have fun, and they can do that next Saturday thanks to the Jensen’s Heart of Gold Foundation.
Jensen’s is hosting its Play for a Cure event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 29 at the train depot, 102 N. Palmer St. The foundation hosts Play for a Cure in September because it is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. There will be plenty of games and activities sponsored by local civic clubs and groups to keep kids happy as well as free food, drinks and parking. There is no charge for admission.
For more information, visit jensensheartofgold.com/play.
Bloomingdale teacher filmed changing student
A Plant City man who was a teacher at Bloomingdale Senior High School is facing a charge of video voyeurism after admitting to detectives he recorded a student while she was changing on campus.
Mark William Ackett, 49, was a family consumer science teacher and the girls track coach at Bloomingdale. A student went into a designated changing room in the fashion design classroom to try on clothing on Sept. 11, according to a report by Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
While she was changing she noticed there were electronic recording devices in the room. HCSO said she immediately put her clothes back on and reported the incident to the school’s administration. They immediately began an investigation and alerted HCSO.
Officers said Ackett, who lives in Plant City, placed cameras in the changing room to intentionally film the victim while they undressed. He was arrested and Hillsborough County Public School’s Professional Standards was notified.
The school district said Ackett resigned his position and no longer works at Bloomingdale. He was hired by the school district in 1991, working at the district’s central office before taking a teaching position at Bloomingdale in January of 2017.
The criminal investigation is active and on-going and HCPSPS is investigating as well. Detectives are attempting to find out if there are any other victims. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call HCSO at 813-247-8200.